COA finds no irregularity in purchase of computers

CEBU - The regional office of the Commission on Audit did not find any irregularity in the 2002 and 2003 purchase of computers for Cebu City’s 20 public schools that was course through the respective barangays amounting to P10 million.

In her September 29 letter addressed to City administrator Francisco Fernandez, State Auditor IV and audit team leader Josette Rodriguez stated that based on records as well as the Barangay Annual Audit Reports of calendar year 2002 and 2003, the audit of the barangays of the City of Cebu did not show any irregularity in the purchase of computers.

“There was no notice of disallowance nor notice of suspension issued during the audit of the said barangays during those years covered by the audit,” Rodriguez said.

The 20 barangays are Adlaon, Agsungot, Apas, Binaliw, Busaya, Carreta, San Nicolas Proper, Ermita, Guba, Hipodromo, Kamputhaw, Lahug, Lusaran, Luz, Mabolo, Pahina Central, Pasil, Pulang Bato, Central Proper (Sto. Niño), Sambag I and Zapatera.

Last September 15, Fernandez had wrote a letter last to COA inquiring about the reported overpriced computer purchase of certain barangays for calendar year 2002 and 2003 as mentioned in a news article that was published last August 4.

It maybe recalled that a taxpayer named Roque Nacar wrote a letter to Fernandez on July 23 requesting for copies of documents pertaining to the purchase of the P10 million worth of computers for the various schools of the said barangays in the north congressional district.

Nacar, in his letter, stated that as per record from the Department of Budget and Management, NCA No. 120867-5, a budget of P500,000 each were subject for release for the purchase of computers for the various schools in the 20 barangays.

The said amount came from the Local Government Service Equalization Fund and serviced by the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Roque said that he wants to know whether the said amount was indeed released or not.

Considering the recent findings of COA that there were no irregularities in the purchase of the said computers, Fernandez said it thus follows that the amount was indeed released.

The P10 million fund reportedly came from North District Rep. Raul del Mar.

But Roque said that del Mar, in published statements, say that the purchase had not been consummated except for barangay Carreta.

“We believed that aside from barangay Carreta, the computer purchases for the other barangays had been consumated. This is now a subject of a complaint that we filed in the office of Tanod bayan Merceditas Gutierez,” Roque in his letter added. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB (THE FREEMAN)